Dingbattiness: Mishaps and Near Misses

I'm almost afraid to write about the last 48 hours. I fear my family may ask the Courts for a guardianship or some other court order to prevent me from leaving the country alone, or maybe even from leaving the house alone. 

Where shall I start? Thursday morning is a good place to start. I woke up early, about 6 am. I got my room all cleaned up and my bags all packed by 10:30 am. I  had my big back pack, which would go in a compartment under the bus, and a small day pack with some bread, cheese, olives and cookies for lunch, and Mr Burple. My bus didn't leave until noon, so I decided to stop by the Tourist Office to make sure I knew where the taxis hung out. I also decided to go by the Pilgrim's Office to say good bye to my new friend Alex and give her one of the knotted things I made. 

When it was time to leave from the Pilgrim's Office, I headed to the taxi hang out and got a taxi to the bus station. As I got out of the taxi at the bus station I realized I had my back pack, but I didn't have my day pack, and most importantly, I didn't have Mr Burple! Oh dear. The very nice taxi man drove me back first to the Tourist Office and then to the Pilgrim's Office. There was so much traffic on those narrow little streets, because the businesses get all their deliveries in the morning, it seemed like forever.  I was panicked.  I knew I could catch a later bus, if I missed mine. But, I was terrified and panic stricken over the idea of losing my little bear buddy, Mr Burple. 

Well, I found the day pack and made it to the bus station on time. I even got a window seat so I spent the whole trip staring out the window, viewing countryside and towns I would walk through in the days to come. 

The bus trip took about five hours with one five minute potty break, about two hours into the trip. I ate my lunch on the bus. As I was eating the bread and cheeseI remembered the trip John and I took on a bus from Barcelona to Santander. We also brought bread and cheese to eat on the bus. But, when we opened our cheese, it was all crumbly, almost like feta cheese and it kept spilling all over the place. We laughed ourselves silly for a good part that trip, trying to get the cheese to stay on the bread. 

Well the bus stopped in Porto at the Casa De Musica metro station and the bus driver said we would be stopping for 45 minutes and then, I thought he said, we would be going into Porto. So, I went and had a coffee, only to find out there were no bathrooms. I went out and stood by the bus. Not only did I have to go to the bathroom, but there was a cold wind blowing and my warm jacket was in my backpack under the bus. I kept thinking I could just take the Metro or a taxi into the middle of town, but my pack was locked under the bus. Finally, the bus driver came back. Fortunately it was before I froze or wet my pants. He said he wasn't stopping any other place in Porto, he was headed to Lisbon. So he opened the compartment and I got my pack. 

I decided to take a taxi since I needed to get to a bathroom sooner, rather than later.  I didn't want to deal with trying to figure out a new metro system, buying tickets, waiting for trains, etc. Well, it sounded like a good idea at the time, but the traffic in Porto is insane, cars and buses racing up and down narrow streets, swerving, slamming on brakes,  like crazy people. It reminded me of the Mr Toad ride at Disneyland. I just prayed I would make it out alive and with dry pants. 

I made it to my hostel and the people were lovely, my room was comfy, and I had an 82 year old roommate from Miami who was very friedly. Then I went down to the kitchen and fell down some cement stairs, splat! There I was sprawled on the floor like a bag of rice. I thought "0h phooey!" Well, that wasn't exactly the word, but we'll let it go. I'm thinking, I'm supposed to start walking in a few days, and now, I've broken my self. But, today so far, it seems I just took a little skin off my knee and bruised myself. 

Portugal beat Poland in the quarter finals of the Euro Cup last night, so it was a little crazy here. I walked all around the old part of town and decided to change my plans to spend five days here. Porto is like Disneyland on steroids. And unlike most European cities I've been in, they don't restrict traffic in the old part of the city that has narrow streets. So it's every person for themselves. Though the fines must be pretty stiff for hitting pedestrians in the cross walks, because the minute you put a foot in the cross walk, they slam on the brakes. 

But Porto is busy, and noisy, people selling trinkets in the stalls everywhere, cigarette smoke everywhere, and just packed with people. I grew up in a tourist town, on Catalina, so I get a little weird in touristy places. Plus I think I'm ready for walking and being out in nature. So, I made new plans. 

I didn't sleep at all last night because there was traffic, people talking on the street and dogs barking all night. So, today they moved me to a new room on the fifth floor, at the back of the building, away from traffic. And I have a view of the river and sea gulls in flight from my window. 

But then, wait for it, . . .after breakfast this morning I couldn't find my coin purse with my credit and debit cards, and 300 euro in cash I had gotten yesterday from the ATM! I was freaked, to say the least. I searched under and around the bed, in the shower and the bathroom, all of my pockets. I couldn't find it. I ran back to the cafe where I had eaten outside by the river, but they didn't have it. The guy at the hostel contacted the police to see if it had been turned in, no such luck. By this time I'm getting a little panicky and wanting to cry. I went back to the room, checked all around the bed. Then I took everything out of my back pack again and this time I turned it upside down and shook it. Out fell my coin purse. I don't know how it got in there, because my back pack was laying in a big drawer under the bed last night. But, I was so relieved. 

I spent today walking the streets, but I just couldn't muster any enthusiasm for sight seeing. So, I decided to do a trial run on taking the metro and funding the beach where, hopefully, God willing, I will start my Camino tomorrow. The beach was lovely and I got my credential stamped at the little tourist office, in case I start before they are open tomorrow Well folks, I hope that was entertaining. .